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Dear members, friends and supporters,
This past month brought many moving moments inside and outside the walls of our community center. Some were even historic! We joined with the family of the beloved Hamelin doctor and last president of the Jewish Congregation of Hamelin, Dr. Siegmund Kratzenstein, of blessed memory, at the unveiling of his gravestone. Dr. Kratzenstein died as a result of his internment and abuse at the hands of the Nazis in Buchenwald Concentration Camp on November 28, 1938. He was secretly buried in the Jewish cemetery in November 1938, and until a year ago the site was unknown.
A gardener's apprentice, the then 16-year-old Josef Speckmann, came forward last year and showed our congregation's president the exact spot where he had buried him so many years ago. Our congregation set everything in motion to find the relatives and arrange for the stone setting. The granddaughter was found in Australia and after countless arrangements, the granddaughter's husband, Harold Brown, and their son, Dr. David Brown, traveled to Hamelin. On September 8th closure was found and the good doctor was finally given his due respect. Rabbi Irit Shillor conducted a very moving ceremony for the family and a select group of invited guests. We were honored to have done our part in assisting the family religiously. This tragic Holocaust story ends with giving Dr. Kratzenstein his name back. We will care for the grave and hold his memory in great honor. (Please read the September 14th JTA article by Dinah Spritzer, “History served as retired gardener helps locate German Jew's burial spot.”)
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Rabbi Shillor's work didn't stop there. She offered a fascinating schiur (lesson) on the meaning of atonement, which was well attended. On Erev Shabbat, Rabbi Shillor welcomed the Wendt family officially into our congregation. The services were quite emotional, added to by the fact that Harold Brown was also in attendance and took active part in the celebration. It was a memorable evening for everyone, and we are thrilled to have another active young family as congregants. How satisfying it is to see our community grow and establish it's future.
In the German city of Dresden another historic event occurred. The Abraham Geiger College ordained the first three rabbis in Germany since 1942. National and international press covered the event with much fanfare. Our president and other community leaders from the Union of Progressive Jews of Germany joined WUPJ leaders, including Rabbi Uri Regev and past president Ruth Cohen, along with national dignitaries at the joyous event. One of the new rabbis, Dr. Tomas Kucera, had served our community in the past. We wish him all the best as he takes the pulpit of the Liberal Congregation of Munich. We wish all three rabbis Mazel Tov!
Our High Holy Days have been quite special this year. Thanks to Rabbi Joel Oseran, WUPJ, Jerusalem, contact was made with HUC-NY rabbinical student Joseph Aaron Skloot. As a result this young man traveled to Hamelin and led our community's High Holy Day services. Joseph is a young man of many talents and he enjoyed an appreciative congregation. His spirituality and musical talent added a special depth to our worship. As always, our Kiddush table sagged under the weight of all the vegetarian dishes our members contributed and everyone went home assured of a sweet New Year. Our Tasclich service was a pleasant curiosity for local citizens. Again, we assure that Jewish life is once again evident in our city. We look forward to meaningful Yom Kippur services with Joseph. This young man's future is certainly bright in the rabbinate, and it will be a lucky congregation who will hire him. It should come as no big surprise that the Skloot family and Rabbi Jo David's (The Jewish Appleseed Foundation) family are close friends. Don't all things happen for a reason?
After the High Holy Days, we once again look forward to building and decorating our Sukkah. We will build our Sukkah for the fifth time on our land and celebrate with our members and friends. Abraham Geiger rabbinical student Jona Simon will lead us in prayer. We'll join together the following week to dance with the Torahs for Simchat Torah. We hope to see our synagogue as full again as it has been during the High Holy Days. May we wish each and every one a happy, healthy and peaceful 5767!
Benefit Concert (see poster)
Once again, our congregant, Uwe Wolandowitsch, has organized a second benefit concert to raise funds for our new synagogue. Uwe has invested countless hours of planning, and the concert promises to be a musical treat. Performers are: Duo Chalil, Mark Rovner, Alina Treyger, Duo Khaloymes and our very own group, Shalom. The pieces will be in Yiddush, Hebrew and German and are sure to delight everyone. The concert will be held in the Munster Church of Hamelin, beginning at 7:30 p.m. on Saturday evening, November 4. Tickets cost 10 Euros and the money raised will go to the synagogue-building project. Uwe welcomes any and all organizational help. Please pass the word to all your friends and neighbors that this concert is not one to miss!
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Our New Schlicha Michal Tal
In August we had to say goodbye to our Schicha, Orly Kenig. Having her work with our children was a wonderful addition to our children's religious education. The new Schlicha, Michal Tal, will pick up where Orly left off, and we are thrilled to have her. She will meet with our children every other Thursday. She'll lead the youth group “Young and Jewish Hamelin” and teach our B'nei Mitzvah class and our adult Hebrew class.
Dance class
Our dance teacher, Boris Markhaseev, invites all who are interested to attend his weekly dance class. The class is held every Wednesday at 5:00 p.m. Boris has taken part in many dance seminars and is an excellent teacher. Learn Israeli dance along with ballroom and modern. It's healthy, fun and free!
Torah Group
Beginning with Simchat Torah we hope to establish a weekly Torah group. We will read, study and discuss the Torah, week by week together. Join us on this adventure every Saturday morning at 10:00 a.m.
Our New Rabbinical Student
We are pleased to welcome our new rabbinical student, Jona Simon, to our community. Jona is studying at Abraham Geiger College and is in his second year. We look forward to his visits this year beginning with Sukkoth.
Mazel Tov
We congratulate the three new rabbis who were ordained at Abraham Geiger College; Mazel Tov to them and their new congregations.
Contributions
We thank the following people for their generosity: Mrs. Foekel, Mrs. Franke, Mr. Speckmann, Dr. David Brown, Dr. Cyndi Levy, Sabine Demuth, Anne Armbrecht, Rimma Rubanov, Polina and Josef Pelts, the Dohme family and the Wendt family.
 Tree of Life
Just as our congregation grows, so does our tree. The Wendt family sponsored a new leaf in commemoration of their acceptance as members into our congregation. We thank them.
Leaves are available for a minimum of “triple Chai” ($54) and can be purchased online with our safe server. Every leaf helps to bring our dream of our own synagogue a little closer. Give generously.
Todah Rabah — Thank You
- Once again we thank Mr. Josef Speckmann for coming forward with his story and assisting us in identifying the gravesite of Dr. Siegmund Kratzenstein.
- Thanks to contributions of books to the Schurupova family. We also thank Rimma Rubanov for the lovely and decorative hanging plate from Israel.
- Thanks go out to all our members who helped with all the holiday preparations.
Birthdays in October
Happy Birthday to all who have an October birthday. Join us on Friday, October 27, for a special Birthday Kiddush.
Refuah Schlama — Get Well Wishes
We wish all who are ill and speedy and complete recovery. Anyone wishing a home visit should call Mrs. Berta Friedmann.
Condolences
We extend our sincere sympathy to the Berlikova family on the recent loss of their beloved husband. May his memory be for a blessing.
Shalom and a happy, healthy 5767!
—Your Synagogue Board
October 2006 • Tishrei–Cheshvan 5767
High Holiday services with rabbinical student Joseph Aaron Skloot:
Sunday, Oct. 1 6:00 p.m. Erev Yom Kippur-Kol Nidre service
Monday, Oct. 2 10:00 a.m. Yom Kippur services
5:00 p.m. Yiskor service, Ne'ila and Havdallah
Sundown Community Break-the-fast
Thursday, Oct. 5 3:30 p.m. “Young and Jewish Hamelin Jr.” with Michal Tal
4:30 p.m. B'nei Mitzvah class
5:30 p.m. Hebrew class for adults
Rabbinical student Jona Simon's visit:
Friday, Oct. 6 3:00 p.m. Challa Bake-off and Sukka building
5:00 p.m. Sukkoth services in the Sukka
followed by a festive Kiddush
Saturday, Oct. 7 10:00 a.m. Saturday morning services
Monday, Oct. 9 9:30 a.m. “Welcome to our Synagogue” class, R. Dohme
Guests: 10th grade, Rinteln High School
Thursday Oct. 12 11.00 a.m. Lecture: „Israel“ with D. Vogelhuber
Friday, Oct. 13 5:00 p.m. Simchat Torah services
Thursday, Oct. 19 2:30 p.m. Citizenship class with D. Vogelhuber
3:30 p.m. “Young and Jewish Hamelin Jr.” with Michal Tal
4:30 p.m. B'nei Mitzvah class
5:30 p.m. Hebrew class for adults
Tuesday, Oct. 24 4:00 p.m. “Russian Afternoon” with Maya Olvovskaja
Friday, Oct. 27 5:00 p.m. Friday night services
Outside our congregation:
Wednesday, Oct. 11 8:00 p.m. Reading by Vladimir Kaminer at the Sumpfblume
Thursday, Oct. 12 7:30 p.m. Lecture: “700 year history of Jews and
Christians in Hamelin,” Bernd Gelderblom,
Schiller High School
Tuesday, Oct. 31 8:00 p.m. “Trees of our biblical garden,” Pastor Martin
Hoffmann, Reform Lutheran Church
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